Editing Sangheili/Gameplay

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[[File:Elite Comparisons2.jpg|thumb|250px|Different incarnations of the Sangheilis as they appear in the main ''Halo'' games.]]

The '''[[Sangheili]]''' serve as enemies in most of the ''Halo'' games, and as allies in ''[[Halo 3]]''. The Sangheili are depicted as very formidable warriors, displaying superb fighting proficiency and tactical mindset to effectively overwhelm their foes. Depending on the rank and role of the player, Sangheili warriors can serve as the most challenging opponents encountered in the games, by being able to quickly defeat the player to impede their objectives. Conversely, they can act as very reliable allies, arguably more so than the [[UNSC Marine Corps/Gameplay|Marines]], as the additional energy shielding in their armor and increased physical capabilities can grant them additional benefits that a normal human soldier otherwise lacks.

==Facing a Sangheili==

The Sangheili warriors are considered to be the most skilled and capable species within the Covenant military caste. Therefore, the player should treat them as first priority targets. As they often lead lesser Covenant races such as the [[Unggoy]] and [[Kig-Yar]], if not neutralized right away, a Sangheili can potentially lead their troops to effectively overwhelm the player. Only if a Sangheili is killed will command break down on the lesser Covenant forces; without their leader, they will flee in terror.

The [[Sangheili harness|harnesses worn by the Sangheili]] generally consist of a [[Sangheili personal energy shield|rechargeable energy shield]], similar to the ones used in the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor]] worn by [[Spartan|Spartans]]. Combined with their tremendous body structure, the Sangheili are very resilient in battle. Most UNSC ballistic weaponry renders ineffective to quickly deplete their shielding. The player must therefore, rely on Covenant based [[plasma]] weaponry to quickly disable their shields and render them vulnerable. Should their shields go down, a Sangheili will generally take cover until their shields recharge, before re-engaging combat. The player must quickly take them down before giving them an opportunity to recover.

The Sangheili's ranking structure is primarily determined by the color of the harness they wear. In order to distinguish one rank from the other, the player must having a general understanding of the color scheme. As higher ranking Sangheili display better fighting prowess and wield more powerful equipment, it is crucial to prioritize on defeating them first as they pose a greater threat than their lower ranking subordinates.

The Sangheili are very relentless warriors. They will ensure to defeat their opponents at all costs, even if it means they too, shall fall. For this reason, the player must always engage such adversaries with extreme discretion. If for instance, a Sangheili gets stuck with a Plasma Grenade, the warrior will quickly charge as a final desperate means to take the player out from the explosion.

 

 

Sangheili can hold heavy weaponry such as the [[Rocket Launcher]] with one hand, unlike normal Marines or even [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN IIs]]. Their marksmanship is not to be underestimated, as they can quickly gun down opponents from afar. In close quarters, the Sangheili will often rely on melee combat, given the opportunity. They can use whatever weapon they have to bludgeon their opponents with great effect. A Sangheili armed with an Energy Sword is capable of gaining a quick kill on most of their opponents.

 

Aside from their reliance on personal weaponry, the Sangheili can skillfully pilot Covenant vehicles such as [[Karo'etba-pattern Ghost|''Karo'etba''-pattern Ghosts]], [[Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft|Type-26 Banshee]]s, [[Wuzum-pattern Spectre|''Wuzum''-pattern Spectres]], [[Ruwaa-pattern Shadow|''Ruwaa''-pattern Shadows]], and [[Zurdo-pattern Wraith|''Zurdo''-pattern Wraith tank]]s. However, they are also adept in operating UNSC vehicles, such as the [[M12 Warthog|Warthog]] and the [[M808B Scorpion|Scorpion]].

 

Like SPARTAN-IIs, the Sangheili are capable of boarding enemy controlled vehicles. On certain occasions, they will operate [[M41 Vulcan|Light Anti-Aircraft Gun]]s or [[M68|Gauss Cannons]] mounted on Warthogs to use against their human adversaries.

Despite their advantages, Sangheilis also have some vulnerabilities:

|The M6D Pistol has high damage per hit, high accuracy, and thus is very effective against Sangheilis. The only thing you should worry about, however, is the Pistol's low rate of fire. It is best used in conjunction with an overcharged [[plasma pistol]] shot, as on legendary, it can take 6-8 shots to take out a [[Major Elite|Major Sangheili]]'s [[Elite Personal Energy Shields|Shields]] and in that time you could easily die.

|Not the most effective weapon. Your best strategy at close range with this weapon is to just hold onto the trigger - it'll take a little while, but the sheer weight of bullets will quickly overwhelm the Sangheilis' Energy shield. From medium range it is better to pulse the trigger, as after the trigger is released, the bullet spread is reset. However, it is put in best effect when you are in close range, having depleted the Sangheili's shielding and then slam the Sangheili with your melee. As one of the fastest melees, the Assault rifle's first melee will stun the Sangheili, whilst the second will kill it.

|It can be effective if [[dual wield]]ed. It can be rapid fired in ''Halo 2''. It's best to dual wield with a Plasma weapon, such as the {{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}} to take down their shields, then aim for the Sangheili's head with the M6C Magnum for a quick kill. Be sure to headshot, as the effectiveness is exponentially increased.

|Both are a high step up from the MA5B Assault Rifle. The BR55 Battle Rifle's 3 round burst or the Covenant Carbine's semiautomatic mode is pretty effective against Sangheilis. However, if the [[Noob Combo]] is used, any Sangheili can be killed in a matter of seconds. 3-4 head shots will usually bring down an Sangheili's Energy Shield entirely after which, only 1 head shot will kill. In addition, the zoom allows you to kill the Sangheili in a variety of zones, some of which will put you a good deal away from harm's way. However, be careful of the BR's spread effect; the Covenant Carbine is slightly weaker, though it is well worth the trade off.

|Good when coupled with the Plasma Pistol or the Plasma Rifle, as it will break the Shields quickly, and is excellent when it does. Otherwise it works about the same as the MA5B Assault Rifle does, except the medium range accuracy is slightly less than the MA5B Assault Rifle. However, in [[Legendary]], the effect is dampened, as the [[Major Elite|Major Sangheili]]s can absorb enough damage to kill you first.

|Instant kill weapon at close range, except against higher Sangheilis such as [[Ultra Elite|Ultras]] and [[Councilor]]s. On Legendary, though, it takes at least two shots to kill a Minor, so you may wish to get an alternative, as the recoil time is excessively long.

|One shot will deplete an Sangheili's Shielding on lower difficulty settings, but one head shot will neutralize one instantly, except [[Zealots]], Councilors, and [[Special Operations Elite|SpecOps Sangheilis]] (On Legendary, a Major can also take 2 headshots). It would take about 4 body-shots to kill a [[Minor Elite|Minor]] on [[Legendary]] difficulty. Easily one of the best weapons at all ranges (at far, they can't even strike back; at close range, you don't even have to aim, as two to three body shots should suffice).

|Sangheilis have good reflexes and dodge most grenades thrown at them, except for frag grenades. Though it won't kill them instantly, is harder to see and will deplete their Shield. They're useful in narrow areas, close quarters, and for making the enemy break cover. One blast will only kill [[Stealth Sangheili]]s. However, grenade spamming is effective when faced with large groups of enemies.

|Very useful, though few and far between. Basically a 3 second way to break an Sangheili's Shield and put it away. However on higher difficulties as many turrets are found in fairly exposed areas, a group of Covenant could fire on you killing you in a few seconds. Try and use this against fairly small groups or with backup.

|Very good against Sangheilis in cover and for taking out groups of 2 or more, but for the sake of practicality, carry something else to switch to for one-on-one combat, except against sword-wielding Zealots, as you will need to put them down quickly before they can close the distance. Even if it doesn't kill the Zealot, it will still knock him aside and stun him for a few precious seconds you can then use to put more distance between it and yourself. However, in Legendary, the effectiveness is reduced because even the Majors can survive an entire rocket.

|Resist the urge to fire a charged shot; an Sangheili will most likely dodge it, unless you either get lucky or have enough skill to catch it off guard. Firing continuously may bring it down more quickly. This weapon's upgraded lock-on in ''[[Halo 2]]'' makes it practical for Shield breaking when using the charge-shot. An excellent tactic for killing an Sangheili very quickly, especially on Legendary, is to charge it up, fire at the target Sangheili, then quickly fire a shot from the [[M6C Magnum]] (or a shot from a Battle Rifle, which is easier to score a headshot because of the three round burst) for an instant kill. Also, if they receive a full charged Plasma bolt, they are stunned for a second, enough time to kill them or escape.  

|Very effective if you have good aim. If not, the overheat can leave you vulnerable to a charging and angry Sangheili. Try to use cover once the gun has overheated, as only a few shots from it are then required to kill an Sangheili with no shielding. Dual wielding is good too. For the Brute variant, dual wielding is necessary to avoid overheating of both guns. However, as with the AR, it is advisable that you charge in and, at the last moment, melee at close range (especially when dual-wielding).

|Highly effective if you use it right, but the rounds can be dodged, like Plasma Grenades or charge-shots from Plasma Pistols. If you catch an Sangheili in the open, fire about half a magazine then retreat and the needles will home in on it, piercing its Shield and killing it, an example of a "fire-and-forget" weapon. The only problem is that Needlers are slow, so have some patience. Also, do not be fooled by the low, piteous groaning when the Needler rounds explode-they will be able to survive an entire barrage. However, do not forsake this opportunity-fire immediately, or its shields will recharge.

|Like the Fragmentation Grenade, they will easily dodge out of the way if thrown right at them. It generally works best to stick a Plasma Grenade at them if they are unaware of your presence. Beware against higher-ranking Sangheilis or on higher difficulty levels as most Sangheilis, when stuck with a Plasma Grenade, will attempt to rush you, killing you in the explosion. In these circumstances simply back-pedal and fire at the Sangheili to stagger it until the Plasma Grenade detonates. Even if you miss your quarry, you can finish it off with a single shotgun headshot or a few headshots.

|The grenades bounce high unless you hit first try and the explosion radius is small compared to other grenades, but can take out an Sangheili in only one or two hits, though it takes around four grenades on [[Legendary]]. 1-2 grenades followed by a melee will usually kill most Sangheilis on [[Heroic]].

|This weapon is effective at close quarters, and is fatal in one hit for lower ranking Sangheilis. Two lunges are required to slay a Sangheili Ultra, even on the [[Easy]] difficulty. Be careful, though, as it is very common for the higher ranks to have an Energy Sword of their own as a secondary weapon, and they can often kill in one hit. Be warned; Sangheilis in ''Halo 2'' can kill you in a single melee, so you'll have to kill them quickly.

[[Sangheili Zealot|Zealots]] are significantly more challenging to fight than other Sangheilis. In ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', Zealots are known to wield [[Energy Sword]]s and {{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}}s. The rifle wielding ones shoot for longer periods (to the point of overheating their gun) while the sword wielders tend to hunt their quarry. They also have powerful shields that are twice as strong as those of a Sangheili Major (in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', they can survive a rocket on [[Easy]]). They are more agile than regular Sangheilis and are harder to run over with vehicles. They constantly weave between objects to avoid incoming fire. Zealots are extremely dangerous in close quarters and should be dealt with promptly, preferably while they are still reasonably at a distance. They are a forceful, incredibly intelligent, and deadly foe to be reckoned with, especially on higher difficulties.

The best way to deal with a Zealot is to either stick them with a {{Pattern|Anskum|plasma grenade}} (otherwise they will attempt to evade or sidestep it during their pursuit), to attack it from long range, or use the "[[noob combo]]," as they are deadly in hand-to-hand combat because of their [[Energy Sword]] (and in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' can kill the player with one hit from an Energy Sword in anything higher than Easy difficulty). In ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', a Zealot would pause for a moment and become "enraged" when it got too close to the player (similar to the Brute berserkers in ''Halo 2''), after which it would almost endlessly pursue him. This berserking afforded the player a few precious seconds to deliberate between "fight or flight". Needless to say, it is inadvisable to stick it in this situation. It can be made to temporarily call off it's pursuit by meleeing/shooting it while evading it's swing (which will cause it to do an evasive maneuver) or by simply outdistancing it and hiding long enough. It's entirely possible to defeat it using only frontal beatdowns.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BLukuMhIiA</ref>

In ''Halo 2'', it is possible to side step and assassinate a Zealot, or any sword wielding Sangheili. This is actually possible in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' if one stands to the right/left of the Zealot's back during its berserk animation and moves in the other direction when he starts turning around to face you. One can also engineer this situation just about anywhere by stunning it with an overcharged plasma pistol shot, provided you're on flat ground and stay clear away from walls. In ''Halo 2'', one can sometimes avoid taking damage from horizontal swings with a well-timed crouch. Due to their strong [[shields]], it is advisable to use heavy weaponry, such as the [[Sniper Rifle]] or Rocket Launcher, if they are available. The [[M6D pistol]] is only moderately effective, taking 16 head shots to kill a fully shielded Zealot on [[Normal]] difficulty. The [[Needler]] is both common and extremely effective, due to the fact that [[Seven|7]] rounds will kill most enemies and the weapon's large magazine.

In ''[[Halo 2]]'', they do not use [[Overshield]]s and their shields are as strong as those of a Major Sangheili and [[Special Operations Elite|Special Operations Sangheili]], but they are a lot smarter and tougher. They are still very deadly in close-quarters, however in ''Halo 2'', their sword animation has been changed to being "more realistic" in the sense that in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', a sword swing had a huge area of effect, and it was impossible to dodge a swing. In ''Halo 2'', it is possible to sidestep, and assassinate a Zealot, or any other Sangheili with a sword. When the Zealot is swinging, quickly step to the side and behind him, than melee him, which results in an assassination, and an instant kill. This is the quickest and most effective way of dispatching Zealots, or other sword wielding Sangheilis. It is also more risky however. Their armor without [[Energy shields|Energy Shields]] are much thicker (although it makes it slower) than that of Major and Minor and can sustain more damage. In addition to the tactics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, dual [[M6C Magnum]]s can be very effective at close ranges so long as you stay outside of their sword's reach. Dual Needlers are also effective. Also, Zealot AI is noticeably different in ''Halo 2''; Zealots are always found wielding Energy Swords, ceremonial weapons befitting their high rank.

This is the only Sangheili variant that will spawn when scripted to, independent of difficulty setting.

Ultras are among the toughest variants of Sangheilis. A good way to combat them is the Noob Combo. This does lose efficiency the higher difficulty you go, especially with the Ultra. Plasma Grenades work very well on them, provided that they are not charging you with their energy swords. Trying to Splatter them is not advised, as they have very quick reflexes and can dodge at high speeds. Most explosive weapons (excluding the [[Brute Shot]]) work great, if you can blast them if a ledge is nearby. If not, try to blast them into a corner and let loose with a high-rate-of-fire weapon, such as the [[M7 SMG]] or the [[MA5D Assault Rifle]].

*The Sangheilis speak English instead of their native tongue.

*Zealot Sangheili ranked enemies are now only encountered on [[Legendary]] difficulty, rather than all difficulties. They no longer possess [[Overshield]]s (having shielding equal to that of a red [[Sangheili Major]]), and are armed exclusively with [[Plasma Sword|Energy Swords]].

*Sangheilis fire in much longer bursts in ''Halo 2'', firing many plasma rifle rounds per burst, compared to just 3 or 4 shots per burst in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.

*Sangheilis no longer have the occasional "spade" helmet and no longer wear a [[Forerunner]] symbol on their backs, in campaign. However, they can be present using the [[emblem]] feature for multiplayer.

*Sangheilis can now be seen dual-wielding weapons.

*Sangheilis now have secondary colors in both campaign and multiplayer.

*Sangheilis gain an animation for when they pull out an Energy Sword that makes them roar, though they don't make the sound in Multiplayer.

*Instead of having different shielding strengths for different Sangheili classes, the majority of Sangheili classes now having the same level of shield strength ([[Sangheili Major]]s, [[Spec Ops Sangheili]]s, [[Honor Guard Sangheili]]s, and [[Zealot]]s all possess identical levels of shielding). The exceptions are [[Stealth Sangheili]]s, [[Sangheili Minor]]s and [[Ranger Sangheili]]s, [[Sangheili Ultra]]s and [[Councilor]] Sangheilis.

*Sangheilis are somewhat more vulnerable without their shielding, and most Sangheili classes can only survive as much damage as a basic [[Unggoy|Grunt]] or [[Kig-Yar|Jackal]] after their shields are disabled (this is in contrast to ''Halo: CE'', where Sangheilis had more than twice as much health as a Grunt or Jackal even without their shields). The exceptions are the [[Stealth Sangheili]]s (who have about twice as much health as standard Sangheili classes) and the [[Ultra Sangheili]]s (who have about 3 times as much health as a standard Sangheili).

*Instead of firing from cover or flanking, Sangheilis now overwhelmingly charge straight at the enemy while firing, engaging in melee combat once they get close enough. This occurs regardless of the Sangheili's current weapon, the weaponry of the enemy, or even the type of enemy (An Sangheili armed with a [[Brute Shot]] or [[Fuel Rod Cannon]] will charge forward recklessly to engage a [[Hunter]] in melee). This also results in a high chance on team killing among them.

*SpecOps Sangheilis, even more so with the [[Catch]] skull on, toss Plasma Grenades with reckless abandon, and many players have reported to be "team stuck" by the Sangheilis.

*As with other Covenant races, the Sangheilis have received minor aesthetic changes, mostly in their armor. In ''Halo: CE'' and ''Halo 2'', the pauldrons on the armor resembled a more pronounced version of the [[MJOLNIR]] pauldrons, where as in ''[[Halo 3]]'' the pauldrons are much thicker and appear overlapped. The "Combat" helmet also has shorter side fins, and more spikes added to the back. The "fins" on the gauntlets have also been removed, as well as the orange crystals on the arms and legs, and their leg armor flares out at the bottom instead of being tight, revealing what appears to be the heel of its foot. However, this leads to clipping, as ''Halo 3'' largely uses old ''Halo 2'' animations.

*[[Minor Sangheili|Minors]] and [[Major Sangheili|Majors]] have varied armor. This meaning that a Minor may be light blue, and another may be dark blue. Same goes for the Majors (with lighter and darker reds).

*All Sangheili armor has Forerunner glyphs, as well as multiple Marks of Shame adorning the body and shoulders.

*The roaring animation for pulling out the sword is changed so that it only appears when lunging at an opponent while crouched. The similarly neglected berserk animation for NPC Sangheilis only appears when they spot an enemy while jumping over a toppled crate.

*[[Sangheili Minor|Minors]] and [[Sangheili Major|Majors]] are seen pulling out an Energy sword as a secondary weapon, which is usually never allowed for the lower ranks.

*[[Spec Ops Sangheili]]s can be seen wearing [[Assault Harness]]es in ''[[Floodgate]]''. All other Sangheilis in ''Halo 3'' wear the familiar standard [[Combat Harness]]es. The corpses of dead Ultra Sangheilis in Floodgate can be found wearing Combat and Assault armor and some of them have Rtas Vadam's face. The corpses of dead Sangheilis seen in ''Halo 3: ODST'' can be found wearing a variety of different armor permutations.

*When the [[Pod infector|Infection Form]] infects any alive Sangheilis, the Sangheilis will disable its energy shield features before submitting to the Flood, making a sound like a Gravity Hammer hits when the infection started and kill all nearby Infection Forms.

[[File:Halo Wars - Elite.jpg|thumb|An Sangheili render from the ''[[Halo Wars]]'' trailer.]]

*In-game the only visible difference in rank is the [[Ripa 'Moramee|Arbiter]] and [[Sangheili Honor Guardsman|Honor Guards]], as well as the Red Sangheilis wielding Energy Staves, all others are purple and light blue.

* Returning the tradition from ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', Sangheilis once again speak in their native language. This is part of an attempt to make the Covenant more alien and imposing.<ref>Game Informer February Issue</ref>

* The [[Sangheili Minor]] featured in the ''[[Halo: Reach Video Games Awards Trailer]]'' sported shoulder pads and gauntlets similar to those of the Minors from ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' and ''[[Halo 2]].''

* They appear to have more teeth on both their upper jaw and mandibles which seem to be sharper and longer like the ''[[Halo Wars]]'' Sangheilis.

* Sangheilis are no longer hunched over, making them appear taller and more imposing.

* The alternate Sangheili helmet from ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and the Sangheili helmet in ''Halo Wars'' have returned.

* Every rank now has a different armor configuration. Minors appear similarly to their appearances in previous games, but higher ranking Sangheilis often sport varying decorative crests allowing determination of rank at a glance.

* Sangheilis have different health and shielding strength for every different class, like in Halo Combat Evolved.

* Sangheili multiplayer permutations can no longer wear pieces from different sets of armor.

* A sub-rank of the Sangheili Major has been revealed, Officers.

* [[BOB]] Sangheilis appear.

* Sangheilis can replenish all their health in multiplayer.

* Sangheilis are quicker and more agile.

* Sangheilis wield a far greater variety of weaponry than most Covenant races.

* Sangheili Zealots have changed role, becoming rare high ranking enemies and sporting different colors. Their previous role has been taken up by [[Sangheili General|Sangheili Generals]].

*Sangheilis are no longer playable in multiplayer.

*Sangheilis lack protective armor on arms.

*Sangheilis will occasionally use Promethean weapons in ''Spartan Ops''.

*Only five Sangheili ranks: [[Sangheili Storm|Storm]], [[Sangheili Ranger|Ranger]], [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealot]], [[Commander (Covenant)|Commander]], and [[Sangheili Warrior|Warrior]].

*The Sangheili combat harness can be found in multiple colors, including blue, green, red, and white.

*Storm Sangheilis, essentially the equivalent to [[Sangheili Minor|Minors]], wield [[energy sword]]s.

*Zealots have once again changed function, becoming equivalent to [[Stealth Sangheili|Stealth Sangheilis]].

*Sangheilis are more aggressive in gameplay, not taking cover as often.

*Their health is lower: most of Sangheili classes can withstand as much damage as a Grunt or Jackal, like in Halo 2.

*Sangheili ranks include [[Sangheili Mercenary|Mercenary]], [[Sangheili Enforcer|Enforcer]], [[Sangheili Ultra|Ultra]], [[Sangheili Warlord|Warlord]] and [[Special Operations Sangheili|Spec Ops]]. Sangheili armors are akin to the designs from ''Halo Reach''.

*All Sangheilis, like Brutes and Marines, will pick up stronger weapons if they happen to find them, even during fights. As they are now Banished, they have no qualms about using human weapons, and often do.

*Sangheilis fight more tactically compared to Brutes, diving for cover if their shields are down and keeping their distance with ranged weapons.

*While in patrol or at rest, Sangheilis do not have their shields turned on. They will activate them very quickly as soon as they sense danger.

*Most vehicles are piloted by Sangheilis (other than [[Chopper|Brute Choppers]]). When driving [[Riuctda Workshop Ghost|Ghosts]], Sangheilis will be more careful than [[Unggoy|Grunt]] drivers and keep their distance.

*Sangheilis now wear armor from ''Halo: Reach''.

*Sangheili ranks now include [[Field Master]], [[Sangheili Major|Major]], [[Sangheili Minor|Minor]], [[Stealth Sangheili|Stealth]], and [[Sangheili Zealot|Zealot]].

*Sangheilis look similar to their ''Reach'' incarnations, anatomically.